Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica

COSTA RICA ANSWERS THE AGE-OLD QUESTION – WHAT IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS?

2009-07-09T14:24:00.002-06:00

By setting forth a philosophy of peace with nature and the world, Costas Rica proves to be the happiest place on Earth

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, July 9, 2009 – Costa Rica, the world’s foremost leader in sustainable tourism practices, has begun to reap the rewards for its commitment to social and environmental preservation alike. The country’s philosophy to being at peace with humanity and nature have now set the stage for a country that is recognized internationally as one of the most stable, most ethical, one of the cleanest and consequently, the happiest place on Earth.

Visit this link to read the entire article http://www.distinctivehotels.com/articles/key_to_hapiness.html

La PazWarterfall Gardens Opened!!!

2009-06-16T15:33:00.002-06:00

Five months later since the Earthquake of Vara Blanca, this magical place full of verdant sceneries, views to the Poás volcano and attractions such as a butterfly observatory, aviary, hummingbirds garden, ranarium, serpentarium, and a trail for the two first waterfalls, has opened its doors recently.

This was a huge effort from the owners and all the staff, who depend of their jobs in Waterfall Gardens, all helped to paint, to organize, to take care of animals, to restore the buildings, to clean, etc … all of them became in an united family who achieved to reopen it and start activating the local economy.

On July, Peace Lodge will be opening 8 of its beautiful rooms. During these months, special rates are available for national and international tourists.

Don´t miss the one day tour while you are in San José… you will be impressed by the beauty of nature!!!

Restaurante Grano de Oro

2009-04-29T08:55:00.003-06:00

The restaurant of Hotel Grano de Oro is very prestigiuos among cuisine experts. Small Distinctive Hotels of Costa Rica congratulates Grano de Oro for getting the maximun calification in the Escargot´s Evaluation.

Buen Provecho!

Article in Spanish

http://www.elfinancierocr.com/ef_archivo/2009/mayo/03/estilos1942155.html

Costa Rica is the 5th cleanest country in the world according Forbers Magazine!!!

2009-04-24T13:49:00.001-06:00

Costa RicaScore: 90.5
No. 5 Overall; No. 1 in the Americas

Costa Rica's economy relies on a robust ecotourism industry, and the care it takes for its environment shows. The Central American country ranks fifth in the global Environmental Index, a rating that should only improve as it strives to become carbon-neutral by 2021. Costa Rica has avoided the deforestation that ravages some Latin American countries: the country earns a score of 97 or better in the categories of forestry, air pollution and climate change.

http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/15/worlds-cleanest-countries-business-energy-clean-countries.html

1. Arenas del Mar Hotel is Awarded the Prestigious Blue Flag

2009-04-03T09:18:00.002-06:00

On Tuesday March 24, 2009, Arenas del Mar Beach and Nature Resort was awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award, receiving a flag and a star for its efforts to keep the beaches surrounding its property clean and pristine. The event was held at the in the offices of the Ministery of Water and Acueducts in San Jose. Attendees of the event included the President of the Republic of Costa Rica, the Minister of Health, the Minister of Tourism, and other important government officials.

A special thanks to the Arenas del Mar team, who has coveted this award for three consecutive years in a row (2006 to 2008) and has maintained a strong commitment to be a role model in the community of Manuel Antonio. To learn more about Blue Flag Certification at Arenas del Mar, click here: www.arenasdelmar.com

Eco Tourism Destination - TIES

2009-03-18T15:13:00.001-06:00

Costa Rica selected as “Eco-Tourism Destination” for its stand on Carbon Neutral Gas EmissionsThe International EcoTourism Society – TIES, one of the most revered ecotourism organizations in the world; last month named Costa Rica an “EcoTourism Destination” as a result of the country’s program to mitigate carbon gas emissions into the atmosphere. Each month TIES selects a destination to be promoted worldwide for its contribution to nature. Last February, Costa Rica was selected due to its “Clean Travel” program; a tool that will allow visitors to donate funds to offset their carbon gas emissions on flights to the Central American nation.“Clean Travel” is a Costa Rican Government initiative to enable visitors to the country to contribute to the preservation of forests, watersheds and biodiversity by offsetting those carbon gas emissions with environmental services.

http://www.centralamericagrapevine.com/php/note_detail.php?id_edicion=35&id_nota=308#contenido

Relax your body and soul... close to heaven!

2009-02-16T15:30:00.002-06:00

Villa Caletas in its eagerness to adapt to the world-wide tendency that demands the hotelkeepers to offer different health services, offers to its guests as a complementary service, Aqua – fitness lessons, Stretching, Pilates, Kick Boxing & Yoga for beginners “

All of these lessons will help our guess by different ways :

Improves balance and coordination

Increases flexibility and strength

Tones & shapes muscles

Reduces stress

Improves Posture

Increase energy

Improves circulation

Improves concentration

Aids injury recovery

Strengthens immune system

Improves sleep patterns

Detoxifies body

Promotes overall wellbeing

A new member in Small Distinctive Hotels

2009-02-04T10:31:00.003-06:00

Small Distinctive Hotels, the most exclusive collections of boutique hotels in Costa Rica, each of its 8 hotels are unique and different in style, character and experience. Each committed through quality and service providing truly unforgettable memories.

Recently, Small Distinctive Hotels decided to include Hotel Cuna del Angel, which is a cozy and charming property located in Dominical Beach, , South Pacific. Cuna del Angel shines like a jewel in the middle of lush forests, this exclusive hotel offers 25 rooms, pool, one of the best restaurants and SPA in the area, besides has facilities to organizes special events and weddings, also owns 3 boats for sport fishing.

“Astonishing views, all along the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, are the red carpet that leads the way to this intimate and warm construction in Colonial and Native Costa Rica’s style; a celebration of the encounter of cultures, where the best of both worlds meet, keeping the glamour and elegance of a modern and civilized world, and evoking the spiritual world of the indigenous cultures that inhabited our small yet rich country”

Come and visit Cuna del Angel and let your soul float away!

http://www.cunadelangel.com/ -info@cunadelangel.com - Tel. (506) 2787-8012

The Blue Flag Program - Arenas del Mar

2008-10-30T10:29:00.002-06:00

Since 2006, the beach located in front of Arenas Del Mar (known as Playitas) has coveted the prestigious Blue Flag (Bandera Azul Ecolgica) award. This program, based on a similar model developed in Europe, works towards the sustainable development of Costa Ricas beaches through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and other services.

Whenever you see a Blue Flag located on one of Costa Rica beaches, you will know that the surrounding community is working rigorously to better its:

Water Quality by assuring that sea water is suitable for swimming and other recreational activities.

Waste Management, assuring that no untreated waters go directly into nearby steams and oceans, and that a recycling and trash collection program is in place.

Environmental education by providing workshops and training to students and the surrounding population.

Safety and administration, assuring that beaches are safe for the general public.

The Bandera Azul is a volunteer certification that incorporates both private and public sectors. In the case of Playitas Beach specifically, Arenas Del Mar has taken a leadership role in obtaining certification. During your stay, we ask for your cooperation in maintaining our beaches clean and pristine. Thank you!

Hotel Grano de Oro - Thanks for such nice comments!

2008-10-28T11:15:00.002-06:00

We would like to thank to our guests for the nice comments in our guest book, we would like to share some of these comments with you:

“Costa Rica is a beautiful and interesting country. This will be the first of many trips to Costa Rica. The hotel was outstanding and we were well looked after by your excellent staff.”

Jim & Jacky, Calgary, Canada

“This is a great place to stay. Service is good, the restaurant one of the best in San José, I will be back.” Juan Kivotos, California, USA

“A splendid beautiful stay. Strongly recommended. Will be top memory of trip to Costa Rica”. Brigitt & Harry, from Germany & Belgium

“This is a beautiful hotel, thank you for preserving the classic style along with modern convenience. Food is exceptional as is the service. We will recommend to all we know.”

Nancy, from USA

“Thanks for the two pleasant nights in this wonderful hotel. A good hotel mets the demands of its customer; a superb hotel, like Grano de Oro, exceeded our expectations by friendly personal…thank you!” Olaf, from Holland

“Our fourth visit to this hotel. We never leave Costa Rica without our visit here. Food was excellent as always.” Jack & Mary, Calgary, Canada

“What an awesome hotel! Beautiful! And your staff amazing! I communicated via internet from the United States and everyone was so nice and helpful! We will be back and we’ll stay much longer!! Thank you for such wonderful hospitality!” Chris & Slisha, Florida, USA

“We are on our honeymoon and we found this hotel to be beautiful and a great start in Costa Rica. We would love to come back and visit. Thank you for the great service and wonderful food.”

PJ & Sasha, Arizona, USA

“On our 20 day honeymoon here in lovely Costa Rica we have traveled all over the country, and have met wonderful Costa Ricans and also people from the USA whom we will continue to be in contact with. Hotel Grano de Oro was great and fantastic. PURA VIDA! And may God bless the land of Costa Rica.”

Bill & Patricia, California, USA

“This was our last trip on our honeymoon and we wish we could have stayed longer. The staff is amazing and very helpful to whatever your needs may be. Have a drink at the bar and you will be very relaxed. Muchas gracias to all the people here! Made a wonderful ending to our amazing honeymoon!”

Allison & Walker, North Carolina, USA

“I love the Grano de Oro with its old world charm, elegance and décor. I loved the attention to detail at every turn, the well appointed rooms, the woodwork, the tropical flowers. Most notable was the restaurant. The courtyard was delightful, what a relaxing atmosphere for breakfast. The food was superb and the service refined. The staff was friendly and accommodating, making our stay all the more pleasurable. I would highly recommend a stay at this hotel.”
J. from New York, USA

AGREEMENT HOTEL CASA TURIRE –ICE & FITNESS TRAIL

2008-09-19T13:30:00.004-06:00

Just a few days ago, Hotel Casa Turire had the opportunity of signing a new agreement with ICE, who is in charge and management of all the lands surrounding La Angostura Lake, a hydroelectric project located just a door step from our hotel and surrounding our property on the north and south sides.

The ICE has two hydroelectric projects in cascade, Cachi and Angostura Lakes, which both together generate 277 MW per hour and provides 38% of the national hydroelectricity.
This agreement allows us to built two trails one of 1.5 kilometers and the other 2 kilometers of length.

First trail, 1.5 km. Will have emphasis in ethno-botany, as matter of fact, information concerning how plants are used as medicine for humans, whether it has been studied or is information passed from generation to generation as a cultural practice.

This trail will have the modality of Auto-guided trail, therefore clients will have the chance to purchase the booklet at our reception and follow the stations at their own pace.

Second trail, 2 km. It is focus as a new approach to nature, “healthy tourism” (vita Parcour fitness trail) we considered it is totally new in Costa Rica and certainly will be followed by many other hotels, perhaps private reserves around the country.

Vita Parcour fitness trail give you the opportunity to stay fit at your level, free of charge, at whatever time suits you. Every circuit features different exercises aimed at muscle training, flexibility and/or endurance. Alternatively, you can simply go for a jog along the sign posted trails.

It consists of 15 stations along the trails and in everyone of them a different exercise to perform, all them marked with colors which indicates the difficulty of it, besides showing the exercise possible for the station. Stations will be built with bamboo and other natural materials found at the property, meaning that the settings will be totally natural.
CIRCUITO DE VIDA.

This idea of enjoying nature as well as the possibility of staying fit without charge was created in Switzerland and the idea was brought to us by Mr. Daniel Allemann.
The name we are adopting for this type of trails will be “CIRCUITO DE VIDA”.
Consequently, we are creating or enhancing the activities our clients can perform at Hotel Casa Turire without leaving our property.

Weddings in Florblanca

2008-08-27T12:00:00.001-06:00

Florblanca is keeping the Santa Teresa area filled with fiestas! Kicking off the month of August, Florblanca hosted Carolina Ortíz and David Guiterrez of San José for an exquisite wedding. Filling all of Hotel Florblanca and many other small boutique hotels throughout Santa Teresa, Carolina and David´s wedding party took over the town beginning with a formal catered brunch by Florblanca´s Nectar Restaurant chefs. After the afternoon wedding ceremony, the celebration began with a small band on the beach and over a hundred guests dancing around beds of green and white orchids.

In addition to this private fiesta, Florblanca has been hosting local musicians on Saturday nights with a special menu provided by Nectar Restaurant. Every Saturday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm live music is performed while visitors are invited to experience a pre-fixed menu at $30.00 a person. The menu includes your choice of an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The turnout in Nectar Restaurant on Saturday nights has been such a success that Florblanca please asks that those attending make a reservation! We invite you to join us sometime before the festivities end on October 31, 2008!

Birds and Hotel Casa Turire

2008-08-05T15:59:00.003-06:00

Lovely Cotinga

If there is something we assure to our guest is the great diversity of avifauna we can offer at our hotel.

Our location between two very important mountain ranges makes Hotel Casa Turire a very special birding spot. Turrialba Volcano on the north side providing middle elevation to higlands species (600 to 3350 mts asl) and the beginning of Talamanca mountain range (600 to 1500 mts asl) on the southeast; were most of the endemism occur in Costa Rica, not only with avifauna but botanically as well, since it is part of the oldest lands of Costa Rica.

We have create a birdchecklist for the Hotel grounds so do nearby areas where our guest can discover and learn about our local avifauna. Only for the area of Hotel Casa Turire over 180 species have been recorded up to this moment, and be sure as the migrant species approach many other sorprises will engrose our checklist.

For the sorrounding areas such Tuis River Valley, CATIE and Cerro Silencio, another 137 plus different species has been added so far.

The most important about the species that can be found in our area is that several of them are very hard to find elsewhere in our country.

To name a few of them:
Lanceolated Monklet
Lovely Cotinga
Rufous Browed Tyrannulet
Red Breasted Blackbird
Tropical Mockingbird
Sharpbill
Resplendent Quetzal

Therefore we invite you to visit the Turrialba area, stay at Hotel Casa Turire and enjoy all the attractions located just around the corner and of course discover and learn about the treasure we have at our door step, the birds.

Heliport construcction

2008-07-24T11:40:00.002-06:00

In its constant desire to exceed the expectations and to serve our guests in an efficient and fast manner, the Villa Caletas Hotel has begun with the construction of a Heliport.
A heliport is the elevated area or land surface, to be bound for landing, take-off or moving in the helicopter area.
Due to the increase of guests asking for this method of transportation, the heliport will become an effective form to make easy to our guests the arrival at Villa Caletas Hotel in a more fast and efficient way.
At the same time, and because of the appropriate space needed for the construction of a heliport, the presidency and management of the hotel, in its continuous wish and effort of reforestation and respect for our ecological system, has tried above all to maintain its surrounding nature, always keeping its magnificent tropical vegetation.
We will welcome and wait for you to enjoy Villa Caletas with its constant progress, always thinking in the well-being of our guests, letting them feel every time closer to heaven!

“Live music at Restaurante Grano de Oro”

2008-07-08T08:15:00.001-06:00

We are happy to announce that July is the “month of the music” at Restaurante Grano de Oro. We are having daily evening live presentations (Monday through Saturday), and at lunch time on Sundays, with musicians from “Editus”, Grammy Award winning Costa Rican group. Presentations include violin, guitar, sax and flute. We invite you to experience an unforgettable evening at our lovely restaurant, enjoy the exquisite food and the live music!

Honeymoon at Arenas Del Mar, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

2008-07-02T08:14:00.001-06:00

Arenas Del Mar is the perfect honeymoon escape, featuring spacious suites with spectacular views and an outdoor bathtub. Manuel Antonio, one of the most beautiful National parks in the world, offers not only beach and ocean activities, but a great combination of restaurants, night life, rainforest and beaches.
Costa Rica has become a preferred destination for the new generation of "active honeymooners" that want more than just cocktails by the pool. A Costa Rican Honeymoon allows you to combine rainforest adventures with relaxing moments on the beach, all in a safe and comfortable environment.
At Arenas Del Mar, we have become specialists in helping honeymoon couples create unforgettable experiences. The private setting of Arenas Del Mar Beach & Nature Resort in its private rainforest reserve within walking distance to secluded beaches and spectacular Ocean views are the ideal setting for couples to decompress after the hectic days of getting married.
Favorite activities for honeymoon couples include horseback riding on the beach or in the rainforest, whitewater rafting excursions to the nearby tropical rivers, Canopy tours (zip lines through the top of the rainforest) and the dolphin watch tour in the Pacific Ocean.
Let us take care of your honeymoon arrangements for you!

Working for a Sustainable Tourisim

2008-06-03T13:55:00.003-06:00

Florblanca’s quest for obtaining our CST (Certificate of Sustainable Tourism) leaves has made us revalue ourselves completely, letting us set a more clear vision of where we want to go and what impact we want to have over our clients, our staff, our community and the environment.

Lucky for us, we have staff in all departments (housekeeping, maintenance, accounting, reception, reservations, security and management), that has the best will to participate and collaborate with the new activities and changes we are developing at Florblanca and Reserva Hotel.

We have taken big steps forward on recycling. We began by focusing on separating the garbage of the hotel. This task required educating the staff, creating infrastructure as well as setting a new plan on managing our solid waste and especially our organic wastes, which we are converting into compost.

After teaching our staff, we started working at a community level. We have proudly helped setup a collection center managed by a local we like to call “Gato”. On June 5th, the international day of the environment, we are kicking off with a recycling program for the communities of Santa Teresa, El Carmen, Hermosa and Manzanillo. Prior to this day, a member of Florblanca’s staff will go door by door explaining the recycling program to the community with brochures and examples of what can be recycled and what cannot be recycled.

Electricity conservation has been also one of our top priorities, therefore; we have just installed solar lights in most of our offices and our kitchen allowing these spaces to be illuminated with natural light from the sun. We have also changed most of our light bulbs to more energy saving bulbs.

At a social level, we have reached out to our community in a number of ways. We have made contributions to paint a school in Paquera, to build the bullring of Cóbano, to help organize the annual sand castle contests in Manzanillo, and to help a 15 year old surfer of our community that qualified get to France for international competitions. Two of our workers volunteered to help MOPT build the bridge from Playa Hermosa to Manzanillo. Florblanca signed a code of conduct rejecting commercial sexual exploitation in travel and tourism. We are happy to sponsor the soccer team of Bello Horizonte, and we also send our maintenance personal for a beach clean up every Friday. Florblanca is committed to its neighbors.

Master Chef of France in Villa Caletas

2008-05-30T15:23:00.003-06:00

Villa Caletas invites you to enjoy our exquisite cuisine at the Mirador and Amphitheater Restaurants managed by our “Master Chef of France” M.Vincent Boutinaud.
“Master Chef of France” is the most envied and desired title that all chefs aspire to have!
Their motto is to preserve and spread the French culinary art, encourage training in cuisine, and assist professional development.
The Master Chef of France is given the highest classification in restaurant guides and is often mentioned in specialized magazines. Most of the leading chefs and the winners of culinary competitions belong to the Association.
The association of the Master Chef of France promotes professional excellence trough numerous national and international cooking competitions.
They also organize Competitions for the Best Apprentice Chef in France and the Best apprentice Chef in Europe.
In our restaurants you can pampered your palate with specialties prepared by our Master Chef or France M. Vincent Boutinaud; at the same time feel closer to heaven admiring the magnificent views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the best sunset in country.

Relaxing amongst the Sugar Cane!

2008-04-14T10:17:00.002-06:00

Casa Turire would like to introduce you to the newest edition to the hotel facilities, in looking at maximizing our guests comfort we have opened the new Veroliz Spa.
We would like you to meet Sonia Aguilar our registered massage therapist whom will greet you with a smile and provide you with the ultimate in relaxation with the large variety of services which her spa provides.
Veroliz is the name given to the flower which blooms on the sugar cane grass just before it is ready to be harvested.
Located just behind the reception offices, as you step through the door of the Veroliz Spa you feel more relaxed, with the decadent smell of eucalyptus and mint coming from the room where Sonia works, guests can only help but fall asleep while Sonia hands work magic on sore muscles from rafting or canyoning.
But Veroliz Spa is about more than just massages; guests have a variety of treatments to choose from while staying at Casa Turire that can range from chocolate body wraps to hot rock massages to facials and body exfoliations.
There are also combos available of massage & body wrap or exfoliations & body wrap.
So looking at relaxing in Turrialba?
We invite you to come and check out the new Veroliz Spa and enjoy some of the many exciting activities at your disposal here in Turrialba!

Five Star Guests at Capitan Suizo!

2008-03-25T14:19:00.002-06:00

We have the privilege to introduce our two special guests: Alice & Sophie. They are two baby howler monkeys that unfortunately lost their families. Alice was found one morning walking through the hotel garden. We brought her to the veterinary and he informed us that she was brought to him after an (unknown) accident and that he had to amputate the tale because it was very much damaged. Since then Alice is living with us. Her family is visiting Capitan Suizo frequently. When the troop is here, Alice spends some time with the family. For our guests and all of us it’s beautiful to observe it.

A couple weeks later a tourist found Sophie walking alone on the road and after a veterinarian check the hotel took care of her as well. Both of them are very cute and they require to be close to someone as they are used in the troop. A big part of the hotel staff is helping taking care of the two babies. But since this is a fulltime job, the hotel hired a “babysitter” for 8 hours a day to make sure that they feel comfortable and happy at our place and that the hotel is a good home for them until they are strong and skilful enough to join the group one day.

Birds, howler monkeys, squirrels, gray iguanas, armadillos, skunks and raccoons are animals that can be seen almost daily throughout the hotel’s garden since Capitan Suizo is an oasis where it is implicit that nature and animals are integrated with love and respect. This is why probably Julius, a 6 year old guest in Capitan Suizo, called the property “the zoo hotel”.

Arenas del Mar Hotel – Manuel Antonio National Park

2008-03-10T09:03:00.002-06:00

Arenas del Mar is a beachfront resort situated in the rainforest of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. This fine Costa Rica hotel was designed and built with a unique combination of deluxe accommodations coupled with the highest level of certified sustainability. With 38 rooms equipped with Jacuzzis that overlook the Pacific ocean and the surrounding forest, Arenas del Mar is truly the epitome of sustainability and luxury combined.

While Arenas del Mar just opened recently, its very foundations and construction are rooted in the concept of sustainable tourism. With a focus on native plants (the entire property consists of plants native to Costa Rica), recycled materials (roof tiles are made from recycled plastic from the banana industry), solar panels, recycling and waste management, as well as community and guest interaction, Arenas del Mar truly stands out as a shining example of how sustainability can be applied at all levels of operation.

Kiana Resorts, new member of “Green Hotels”.

2008-02-29T10:24:00.002-06:00

Costa Rica is classified as one of the most important destination of the world regarding the environment. Eco tourism and sustainable tourism destinations are really trendy nowadays and Costa Rica is proud to welcome so many tourists interesting in enjoying the lovely tropical beaches, the wonders of nature and the grandest adventures, the country has to offer.

Kiana Resorts, uniquely situated amidst nature’s richest treasures, where mountainous rainforest descends to meet the dramatic Pacific surfs, conforms to this sustainable policy set by the country.
The Certification in Sustainable Tourism Program (CST), designed by the Costa Rica Tourism Institute, serves as guideline to plan the different procedures of operations. Kiana Resorts, which purpose is to operate in full harmony with environment, involving local community and pass this value to the guests, hope to be certificate by the soon coming opening.
In order to set the environment as a main preoccupation, this beachfront resort is now also part as “Green Hotels”, becoming one of the 3 Costa Rican hotels members. This association encourages, promotes and supports the “greening” of the lodging industry. They publish for the members a “green” catalog, comprehensive compilation of suggestions and ideas proposed by hoteliers on how to save water and energy and reduce solid waste. More information http://www.greenhotels.com/

Concert at Villa Caletas

2008-02-28T11:33:00.002-06:00

On March 22nd Villa Caletas has group Escats in one of its last concerts before their trip to Mexico. Be trapped by its musical diversity and a magical encounter with the Villa Caletas’ amphitheatre at sunset!
To get more details of this concert please check our site http://www.villacaletas.com/printable/eng-conciertos.html where you can sign up to receive news about concerts and special offers of Villa Caletas.

Casa Turire... witness of an active volcano

2008-02-18T09:18:00.003-06:00

As many of you may or may not know the magical backdrop of our picturesque hotel is the magnificent Turrialba volcano.

Over many years this volcano lay silent amongst the Turrialba valley providing an exciting place for tours, the land provides excellent soil for farmers and an elegant touch to the landscape of the area.

Tourists who have visited the volcano marvel at the fact that they can get so close to an active volcano. The vegetation around the craters is something special as it is a bit difficult to survive as a plant around a volcano.

Over the last few months the Costa Rican authorities on volcanoes OVISCORI (http://www.oviscori.uca.ac.cr/) has been keeping a close eye on our friendly giant as she has been releasing some tension.

We have all watched in awe as day by day we see the volcano begin to blow off steam and lately is has been something a little bit more common.

Through many field trips led by OVISCORI there have been a number of changes to the area immediately around the volcano, some of the changes are: vegetation is being affected by the release of gases, some of the houses in the area are experiencing more rust on the roofs and cattle fences and of course the visits to the craters of the volcano are limited to a shorter period of time.

Many people may think; how scary an active volcano!
But we can assure you here as our guest that you be in wonder as you have the chance to sit safely and view the volcano from the balcony of your suite.

Some information on the Turrialba volcano:
Height: 3340m above sea level
Last eruption: February 1866
3 principal craters

Villa Caletas ... close to heaven!!!

2008-02-14T09:30:00.002-06:00

Villa Caletas was chosen as a Best Value by Budget Travel Magazine in its first-ever Best Values list, powered by Trip Advisor ®. Featured on the cover of the magazine’s February issue, the list showcases the top hotels around the world with the best value, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers

¨The awards were created to spotlight the hotels that give travelers what they really want: A reliably satisfying experience at a reasonable price. said Erik Torkells, editor, Budget Travel Magazine¨. "We were thrilled to partner with Trip Advisor for our first-ever hotel awards program, to draw from their vast and reputable data to develop the list and feature traveler testimonials from their site for the winning hotels."

The winners were determined by a combination of the highest traveler ratings and the Trip Advisor Popularity Index, a measurement of overall traveler satisfaction. Trip Advisor, as you certainly know, is the world’s leading source for hotel reviews. Budget Travel, founded by travel icon Arthur Frommer, now has 600,000 devoted subscribers.